NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is a top priority for both the Congress party and the INDIA Bloc.
During a press conference following an interaction with party workers, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha expressed his party’s goal of reinstating the democratic rights of the people in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Rahul acknowledged that while they had hoped for statehood to be restored before the elections, the declaration of elections is a step forward.
“It is our priority and also of the INDIA bloc to restore statehood in J&K as soon as possible. We had expected this could be done prior to elections, but it is okay, elections have been declared. It is a step forward and we are hoping that statehood will be restored as soon as possible and the democratic rights of the people of J&K will be restored,” Rahul said.
The Congress leader spoke about his deep connection with the people of J&K and assured them of the party’s unwavering support.
“We understand that you are going through a very difficult period, a tough period. We want to remove violence,” he said.
Referring to his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which concluded in J&K, Gandhi said, “We want to open ‘Mohabbat ki dukan nafrat ke bazar mein’ (open shop of love in market of hate) with respect and brotherhood.”
Rahul pointed out that this is the first instance since Independence where a state has been downgraded to a Union Territory (UT). He emphasized that the Congress party’s national manifesto clearly states that restoring the democratic rights of the people in J&K and Ladakh is a top priority.
Alongside party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Gandhi engaged with Congress leaders and workers in J&K to gather insights about the grassroots-level preparations for the upcoming assembly polls, which are scheduled to take place in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1, with the counting of votes set for October 4.
During a press conference following an interaction with party workers, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha expressed his party’s goal of reinstating the democratic rights of the people in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Rahul acknowledged that while they had hoped for statehood to be restored before the elections, the declaration of elections is a step forward.
“It is our priority and also of the INDIA bloc to restore statehood in J&K as soon as possible. We had expected this could be done prior to elections, but it is okay, elections have been declared. It is a step forward and we are hoping that statehood will be restored as soon as possible and the democratic rights of the people of J&K will be restored,” Rahul said.
The Congress leader spoke about his deep connection with the people of J&K and assured them of the party’s unwavering support.
“We understand that you are going through a very difficult period, a tough period. We want to remove violence,” he said.
Referring to his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which concluded in J&K, Gandhi said, “We want to open ‘Mohabbat ki dukan nafrat ke bazar mein’ (open shop of love in market of hate) with respect and brotherhood.”
Rahul pointed out that this is the first instance since Independence where a state has been downgraded to a Union Territory (UT). He emphasized that the Congress party’s national manifesto clearly states that restoring the democratic rights of the people in J&K and Ladakh is a top priority.
Alongside party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Gandhi engaged with Congress leaders and workers in J&K to gather insights about the grassroots-level preparations for the upcoming assembly polls, which are scheduled to take place in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1, with the counting of votes set for October 4.